BookRank

Best of the year

Best books of 1986

39 highest-rated books first published in 1986.

← 19851987 →

Why Maus is #1

Maus (Art Spiegelman) scores 9.0/10 from 531 ratings — 0.1 points ahead of Watchmen in second place.

The score is a weighted average across 3 independent rating sources. A title with few ratings is pulled toward the category average, so a handful of enthusiastic reviews cannot outrank a book that thousands of readers have judged. Method →

  1. Maus
    MausArt Spiegelman · 1986 Graphic novels531 ratings
    9.09.0 / 10
  2. Watchmen
    WatchmenAlan Moore · 1986Filmed 2009 Comics2.2K ratings
    8.98.9 / 10
  3. Speaker for the Dead
    Speaker for the DeadOrson Scott Card · 1986 Science fiction1.6K ratings
    8.48.4 / 10
  4. Howl's Moving Castle
    Howl's Moving CastleDiana Wynne Jones · 1986 Fantasy1.2K ratings
    8.38.3 / 10
  5. Love You Forever
    Love You ForeverRobert N. Munsch · 1986 Children’s books226 ratings
    8.38.3 / 10
  6. It
    ItStephen King · 1986NYT bestseller Horror2.4K ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  7. A Darkness at Sethanon
    A Darkness at SethanonRaymond E. Feist · 1986 Fantasy366 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  8. The Goal
    The GoalEliyahu M. Goldratt · 1986 Business211 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  9. Going Solo
    Going SoloRoald Dahl · 1986 Biography & memoir76 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  10. Test of the Twins
    Test of the TwinsMargaret Weis · 1986 Fantasy149 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  11. Redwall
    RedwallBrian Jacques · 1986 Fantasy477 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  12. War of the Twins
    War of the TwinsMargaret Weis · 1986 Fantasy167 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  13. The Woman Who Rides Like a Man
    The Woman Who Rides Like a ManTamora Pierce · 1986 Fantasy227 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  14. The Dark Knight Returns
    The Dark Knight ReturnsFrank Miller · 1986 Fantasy57 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  15. The Darkest Road
    The Darkest RoadGuy Gavriel Kay · 1986 Fantasy83 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  16. Time of the Twins
    Time of the TwinsMargaret Weis · 1986 Fantasy156 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  17. Tuf Voyaging
    Tuf VoyagingGeorge R. R. Martin · 1986 Science fiction84 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  18. Robot Dreams
    Robot DreamsIsaac Asimov · 1986 Science fiction81 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  19. Foundation and Earth
    Foundation and EarthIsaac Asimov · 1986 Science fiction578 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  20. The Light Fantastic
    The Light FantasticTerry Pratchett · 1986Filmed 2008 Fantasy1.3K ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  21. The Songs of Distant Earth
    The Songs of Distant EarthArthur C. Clarke · 1986 Science fiction91 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  22. Blood of Amber
    Blood of AmberRoger Zelazny · 1986 Fantasy87 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  23. Cyclops
    CyclopsClive Cussler · 1986 Adventure199 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  24. Count Zero
    Count ZeroWilliam Gibson · 1986 Science fiction513 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  25. Burning Chrome
    Burning ChromeWilliam Gibson · 1986 Science fiction382 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  26. The Wandering Fire
    The Wandering FireGuy Gavriel Kay · 1986 Fantasy90 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  27. Wielding a Red Sword
    Wielding a Red SwordPiers Anthony · 1986 Fantasy85 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  28. The Hellbound Heart
    The Hellbound HeartClive Barker · 1986 Horror313 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  29. A Perfect Spy
    A Perfect SpyJohn le Carré · 1986 Spy & espionage63 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  30. Red Storm Rising
    Red Storm RisingTom Clancy · 1986 Thriller284 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  31. The Whipping Boy
    The Whipping BoySid Fleischman · 1986 Children’s books52 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  32. Many Waters
    Many WatersMadeleine L'Engle · 1986 Fantasy149 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  33. The Bourne Supremacy
    The Bourne SupremacyRobert Ludlum · 1986 Thriller227 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  34. Magic Kingdom for Sale — SOLD!
    Magic Kingdom for Sale — SOLD!Terry Brooks · 1986 Fantasy151 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  35. Golem in the Gears
    Golem in the GearsPiers Anthony · 1986 Fantasy60 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  36. Shards of Honor
    Shards of HonorLois McMaster Bujold · 1986 Science fiction118 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  37. Ethan of Athos
    Ethan of AthosLois McMaster Bujold · 1986 Science fiction149 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  38. Strangers
    StrangersDean Koontz · 1986 Horror62 ratings
    7.47.4 / 10
  39. Necroscope
    NecroscopeBrian Lumley · 1986 Horror99 ratings
    7.47.4 / 10

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